Method and Device for Conducting a Multi-Hand Wagering Game

ABSTRACT

A player places multiple hand wagers and receives a set of cards. The player arranges the set of cards into a hand set for each of the hand wagers and a shared set. Optionally, at least one additional card may be dealt to the set. Player hands are formed for each hand wager using the hand set for that hand wager and the shared set. The player hands are evaluated using hand evaluation rules and the hand wagers are resolved based on the evaluation of the hands.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/066,203, entitled “Wagering Games Using Multiple Hands Sharing Cards,” filed Feb. 19, 2008 by Applicant herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and devices for conducting wagering games. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and device for conducting a wagering game in which the player can play multiple hands that share communal cards among them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A popular card game in casinos is Baccarat. In Baccarat there are two surrogate players who oppose each other, the Player and the Banker. The casino (or house) takes the opposite position of each wager. With up to twelve playing positions at a table, a bettor may place his or her wager in one of two manners: with the Banker or with the Player. The player's objective is to select the surrogate hand that will have a card value total, according to the rules, that is closer to a target value of nine than the opposing hand. In Baccarat the player may also place a wager that the hands will have a tie value total.

After the placing of wagers with the Banker or Player, two initial cards are dealt to each of the surrogates, Player and Banker. The game is played modulo ten, that is, if the total value sum of a hand equals or exceeds ten, then the value is equal to the remainder after dividing by ten, i.e., only the last digit is used as the value of the hand. Consequently, hands will always have a value of between zero and nine. Aces have a value of one, tens and face cards have a value of aero, and all other cards have a value equal to their face value.

If the Player's (or Banker's) initial two card values have a sum or value of eight or nine, the cards of the hands are turned over immediately. A hand with a value of nine wins over any lesser total. If neither the Player nor the Banker has a nine, then a hand with a value of eight wins over any lesser total. Ties are pushes.

If neither the Banker nor the Player hand initial cards have a count of eight or nine, then the Player hand has the next play. If the Player's score is five or less, then the Player draws; otherwise the Player stands. If the Player stands, then the Banker draws on a total of five or less. If the Player does draw a third card, then the Banker must stand or draw a third card based the Banker hand value and the player's third card.

The foregoing rules are based on the odds of bettering the Banker initial hand count relative to the Player hand final count. They are fixed rules. If a third card is drawn, its value is added to the values of the initial cards, modulo ten, to arrive at the Banker hand final count. If no third card is drawn, the Banker's initial count becomes the Banker's final count.

Once play is completed by the Banker, the final hands are resolved with the hand with the final count closest to the target value of nine deemed the winner. Wagers are then paid even money to all those who wagered with the victorious Banker or Player. Wagers with the loser are collected. Ties are a push and no one wins or loses. Since the odds favor the Banker hand, a five percent commission is collected by the casino on winning bets placed with the Banker hand. Tie wagers are typically paid at 8:1 where such wagers are made and the Banker and Player hands tie.

Another popular game in casinos is Blackjack. Blackjack is played between one or more players and a dealer, also known as the house. In the standard game, the player first indicates his game wager, and then cards are dealt. Cards are dealt at random from one or more decks of playing cards. Commonly, cards are dealt from a shoe containing multiple standard decks of playing cards. In one variation, specific cards have been removed from the deck to form a modified deck, e.g. a Spanish deck which is a full deck excluding ten cards.

Once each player has placed a game wager, the dealer deals two cards to each player. In some games, the player's cards are dealt face down; in others they are dealt face up. Generally, the distinction is based on the number of decks used to conduct the game. When played with one or two decks, the player's cards are generally dealt face down. When played with more decks, the player's cards are generally dealt face up. The difference is based on the idea that, when there are fewer cards available, revealing just a few more cards to a card counter can make a large difference, but when there are more undealt cards remaining in the shoe, this advantage is minimized.

The dealer is also dealt a hand of cards. In many cases, the dealer is dealt two playing cards. In one version, the dealer's cards are dealt with one face-down (commonly referred to as the hole card) and one face-up (commonly referred to as the up card), so that the players can see one, but not both, of the dealer's cards before they must make any game choices. The hole card is generally not revealed until after each player completes his or her hand. In some casinos, most of which are outside of the United States, the dealer does not receive the second card until each player has completed his or her hand.

Blackjack hands are evaluated by totaling the point value of the constituent cards. Cards between two and ten, inclusive, are counted as their face value; picture cards (jack, queen, king) are counted as ten; Aces are counted as either one or eleven, whichever makes a better hand for the holder. The objective of the game is to have a hand valued closer to, but not greater than, twenty-one than opponent's hand is. The ideal hand is made up of an ace and a picture card or ten, with a value of twenty-one. This is known as a blackjack, a natural, or a traditional blackjack.

If the player has a blackjack, he or she wins immediately, unless the dealer also has a blackjack. In the traditional game, such a win is paid at odds of three-to-two (or in some newer implementations, six-to-five). If the dealer has a blackjack, those players not having a blackjack lose immediately. In most implementations, if both player and dealer have a blackjack, the result is a push, that is, a tie in which the player does not win, but does keep the initial wager.

If neither the player nor the dealer has a blackjack, the player may select one of several options. The player may stand, that is, play the hand as currently constituted; the player may hit, that is, receive one or more additional cards in an attempt to improve his or her hand total; the player may double down, that is, double the initial wager and receive one additional card; or, if the player started with two cards of the same value, the player may split the cards to create two hands, each beginning with one of the pair of cards which had constituted the player's initial hand. Each of the split hands would receive an additional card to create two new initial two-card hands, each of which would then be completed using the same options (although some casinos have some limits on doubling down after a split and splitting after a split). In some casinos, the player may also have the right to surrender, that is, concede defeat and forfeit a portion of the initial wager. The player may continue to make choices until the player does one of the following: stand; double-down; surrender; or bust by obtaining a hand value that exceeds twenty-one. In the case of a bust, the player automatically loses. In the remaining cases, the player must wait until the dealer constitutes his or her hand to determine whether the player wins or loses.

If any players remain in the game, the dealer constitutes his or her final hand by hitting or standing. Typically, house rules dictate whether the dealer hits or stands. That is, the dealer hits until the dealer has a hand value dictated by the house rules. In the event that the dealer's hand value exceeds twenty-one, the dealer busts, and all players remaining in the game automatically win.

Player hands are compared to the dealer hand and the target value of twenty-one. If the player hand value is closer to the target value of twenty-one than the dealer hand value is, the player wins and is rewarded with an amount equal to the player's initial wager. If the dealer hand value is closer to the target value of twenty-one than the player hand value is, the player loses and the dealer collects the player's initial wager. If the dealer hand value is equal to the player hand value, the hand is a push and the player neither wins nor loses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a method and device for conducting a wagering game for at least one player using game pieces. The wagering game includes hand evaluation rules for evaluating hands formed from the game pieces. The hand evaluation rules could include many different modes for evaluating hands including a predefined pay table of ranked hands and associated payouts, a ranking of hands formed from the game pieces, at least one calculation for determining the value of a hand formed from the game pieces, or the like.

Two or more hand wagers are received from the player. In one such optional embodiment, a first hand wager and a second hand wager are received from the player. A set of game pieces is dealt to the player. The player arranges the set of game pieces into a hand set of game pieces for each of the player's hand wagers and a shared set of game pieces. For example, where the player places a first hand wager and a second hand wager, the set of game pieces may be arranged into a first hand set, a second hand set, and a shared set.

A player hand is formed for each of the player's hand wagers. Each of the player hands includes at least the hand set of game pieces for that hand wager and the shared set of game pieces. For example, where the player forms a first hand set, a second hand set, and a shared set, a first player hand consists of at least the first hand set and the shared set, and a second player hand consists of at least the second hand set and the shared set.

In an optional embodiment, at least one additional game piece may be dealt. In one such optional embodiment, the additional game piece is dealt to the set of game pieces. For example, the additional game piece(s) may be dealt to the shared set or to one or more of the hand sets, depending on the optional embodiment. Optionally, the additional game piece(s) may be dealt after the arrangement of the set of game pieces is completed.

In an optional embodiment, the player may be permitted to place a post-deal wager after the step of dealing the set of game pieces to the player and before the step of dealing the additional game piece(s). In one such optional embodiment, the post-deal wager is resolved after the arrangement of the set of game pieces is received and the resolution of the post-deal wager is based on a combination of at least one of the game pieces dealt to the set of game pieces prior to the receipt of the post-deal wager and at least one of the additional game pieces dealt to the set of game pieces after the receipt of the post-deal wager.

Each player hand is evaluated separately and independently of the other player hands based on the hand evaluation rules and each of the player's hand wagers is resolved based on the evaluation of the player hand for that hand wager. Thus, in an optional embodiment in which a first player hand and a second player hand are formed, the first player hand and the second player hand are separately and independently evaluated based on the hand evaluation rules. The first hand wager is resolved based on the evaluation of the first player hand and the second hand wager is resolved based on the evaluation of the second player hand.

As previously mentioned, the evaluation rules may take many forms. For example, in an optional embodiment in which the hand evaluation rules include a predefined pay table of ranked hands and associated payouts, each player hand may be evaluated by comparing each player hand to the ranked hands on the pay table. Each of the player's hand wagers are resolved by issuing the payout, if any, associated with at least one of the player hands according to the pay table. In an optional embodiment, an additional payout may be issued if two or more of the player hands are associated with a specified ranked hand according to the pay table.

In another example in which the hand evaluation rules include a ranking of hands formed from the game pieces, a comparison hand (such as a dealer hand, a banker hand, a player-banker hand, or a player hand for a different player) may be dealt and each player hand may be evaluated by comparing the player hand to the comparison hand according to the ranking of hands. The player's hand wagers may be resolved by issuing a payout to the player if the player hand for the hand wager outranks the comparison hand according to the ranking of hands.

In yet another example, the hand evaluation rules include at least one calculation for determining the value of a hand formed from the game pieces and a target value. In one such optional embodiment, a comparison hand (such as a dealer hand, banker hand, or player-banker hand) is dealt and each player hand is evaluated by comparing the value of each player hand to the value of the comparison hand according to the hand evaluation rules. Each of the player's hand wagers is resolved by issuing a payout to the player if the value of the player hand for the hand wager is closer to the target value than the value of the comparison hand is. Optionally, a player's hand wager may be collected if the player hand for that hand wager exceeds the target value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout. Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention includes a method for conducting a wagering game. Game pieces are used to conduct the wagering game. The game pieces may take any form, including dominos, tiles (such as Pai Gow tiles, Mah Jong tiles, or the like), playing cards (such as conventional poker playing cards, Mah Jong playing cards, or the like), dice, numbers, or any other game indicia.

In conducting the game, hand evaluation rules are used to evaluate hands. Since a method according to the present invention could be applied to any type of game, the hand evaluation rules may vary depending on the particular embodiment. More specific example of hand evaluation rules are given below, but, as an example, hand evaluation rules could include comparing player hands to pay tables, comparing player hands to a comparison hand (such as a dealer hand, a banker hand, a player-banker hand, a hand dealt to another player, or the like), calculating a value for each player hand and comparing the value of the player hands to the value of a comparison hand (such as a dealer hand, a banker hand, a player-banker hand, a hand dealt to another player, or the like), or any other rule set for determining whether a player hand has objectively won or lost.

Referring generally to FIG. 1, a hand wager is received 102 from the player for each player hand. It is contemplated that the number of hand wagers may be fixed, e.g. a player may be required to place exactly two hand wagers, or the player may be permitted at least some selection in determining the number of hand wagers to place (and, consequently, the number of player hands to conduct). In an optional embodiment, the player places at least two hand wagers and conducts at least two player hands.

A set of game pieces is dealt 104 to the player. The set of game pieces may include any quantity of game pieces. The examples below illustrate how a game according to an embodiment of the present invention may be conducted using various sized sets. For purposes of generally describing a method according to the present invention, a set contains N game pieces.

The player arranges 106 the set of N game pieces into a hand set for each of the hand wagers placed and a shared set. For example, if two hand wagers are placed, a first hand wager and a second hand wager, the player would arrange the set of N game pieces into a first hand set (associated with the first hand wager), a second hand set (associated with the second hand wager), and a shared set. As may be appreciated, if a set includes N game pieces, a shared set includes C game pieces, and W hand wagers have been placed, the number of game pieces, H, in each hand set (assuming each hand set includes an equal number of game pieces) would be defined by:

$H = \frac{N - C}{W}$

Thus, if five game pieces are dealt to a player, the player has placed two hand wagers, and the shared set includes one game piece, the player will form two hand sets each including two game pieces (assuming each hand set includes an equal number of game pieces).

In one optional embodiment, no additional game pieces are dealt. In an alternate optional embodiment, at least one additional game piece may be dealt 108 to the set of game pieces after the player arranges the set of game pieces. In such an optional embodiment, the additional game piece or additional game pieces may be generally dealt to the set, or may be dealt to a specific hand set or to the shared set. Examples of both are given below.

In a further optional embodiment, a post-deal wager may be received after the set is initially dealt, but before any additional game piece or additional game pieces are dealt. In one such optional embodiment, the post-deal wager is resolved using at least one game piece dealt prior to the placement of the post-deal wager and at least one of the additional game pieces dealt after the post-deal wager. Again, the examples below illustrate some post-deal wagers and their methods of resolution.

Player hands are formed 110 for each of the hand wagers. Each player hand includes at least one hand set and the shared set. For example, where a first hand wager and a second hand wager are placed, a first player hand includes at least the first hand set and the shared set and a second player hand includes at least the second hand set and the shared set. As may be appreciated, where additional game pieces are dealt, any of the player hands may be defined to include one or more of the additional game pieces as discussed in greater detail below.

It is noted that in optional embodiments, different hand sets may include different quantities of game pieces. This would lead to player hands of different sizes. For example, a shared set may include one game piece, a first hand set may include two game pieces, and a second hand set may include four game pieces. This would result in a first hand of three game pieces (two game pieces from a first hand set plus one game piece from the shared set) and a second hand of five game pieces (four game pieces from a second hand set plus one game piece from the shared set).

Each hand wager is resolved 112 by evaluating the player hand associated with that hand wager according to the hand evaluation rules and resolving the hand wager in accordance with the evaluation of the associated player hand. Various examples of the application of various hand evaluation rules are given below. Briefly, where hand evaluation rules include comparing player hands to pay tables of ranked hands and associated payouts, resolution of the hand wager associated with that player hand may include issuing the payout, if any, associated with the player hand according to the pay table. Where hand evaluation rules include comparing player hands to a comparison hand (such as a dealer hand, a banker hand, a player-banker hand, a hand dealt to another player, or the like), resolution of the hand wager associated with that player hand may include issuing a payout to the player if the player hand outranks the comparison hand. Where hand evaluation rules include calculating a value for each player hand and comparing the value of the player hands to the value of a comparison hand (such as a dealer hand, a banker hand, a player-banker hand, a hand dealt to another player, or the like), resolution of the hand wager associated with that player hand may include issuing a payout to the player if the value of the player hand is closer to a target value than the value of the comparison hand is. Optionally, a hand wager may be collected if the value of the player hand exceeds the target value.

Turning now to some examples of the present method, in one optional embodiment, the present method may be applied to a game of poker using playing cards or electronic representations thereof. One such optional embodiment of the invention, referred to as “Twin Hand Three Card Poker” may be conducted using a standard poker deck of fifty-two cards. Optionally, the deck of fifty-two cards may be supplemented by a joker card that is wild, i.e. capable of substituting for any other card.

In one such optional embodiment, the game begins with each player making two hand wagers. Optionally, the hand wagers are equal to one another. A set of three cards is dealt to each player. Optionally, a set of three cards is dealt to a dealer or banker as well. Each player arranges the three cards of the set into a first hand set including one of the cards, a second hand set including one of the cards, and a shared set including one of the cards. In a version conducted at a gaming table or displayed on an electronic display, the player's arrangement of the set may be displayed with the first hand set to one side, the second hand set to the other side, and the shared set between the first hand set and the second hand set. For example, if the set initially includes the cards 9

8

8

a player may choose a first hand set of 9

a second hand set of 8

and a shared set of 8

.

After all players have made their decisions concerning how to arrange the set of cards dealt to the player, one additional card is dealt to each player's shared set. That is, after the additional card is dealt, the first hand set and second hand set each include one card, and the shared set includes two cards. A first hand contains the three cards in the first hand set combined with the shared set. A second hand contains the three cards in the second hand set combined with the shared set. In this manner, each player now has two separate and independent three-card poker hands that have two cards in common between them. Continuing with the example above, if an additional card of 9⋄ is dealt, the shared hand set includes 8

9⋄, which means that the first hand is 9

8

9⋄ and the second hand set is 8

8

9⋄. It is contemplated that when either of the cards in the shared set is a wild card, the wild card may substitute for a different card in each of the first hand and second hand.

In this optional embodiment, the comparison hand is the dealer hand formed from the set of three cards initially dealt to the dealer. The rank of the dealer hand is independently compared to the rank of each of the player hands. If the dealer's hand outranks a player hand, the player's hand wager for that hand is collected. If the dealer's hand is outranked by a player hand, the player's hand wager for that hand is rewarded. In evaluating the relative ranking of the hands, certain hands may be defined as automatically winning hands. For example, in an optional embodiment, if a player hand is a straight or better, that player hand automatically wins regardless of the dealer hand. Also, a dealer qualifying hand may be defined so that certain player hands push (result in a return of the hand wager) against the dealer hand even if the player hand otherwise outranks the dealer hand. For example, in one optional embodiment, if the player hand outranks the dealer hand, then the outcome depends on whether the dealer hand is 10-7 high or better. If the dealer hand is 10-7 high or better, the player hand wins; otherwise, the player hand pushes.

Continuing with the example described above, if the set dealt to the dealer includes J

10

3⋄, and a conventional three-card poker hand ranking is used, the dealer has a hand of jack-high, while the dealer has a first player hand of a pair of nines and a second player hand of a pair of eights. Both player hands outrank the dealer hand (which is a qualifying hand, if the qualification rule described above is applied). Consequently, the player's first hand wager and second hand wager are rewarded.

In an optional embodiment, the player may be permitted to place an optional side bet based on at least one of the rankings of the player's first player hand and second player hand. In one such optional embodiment, a side wager pay table may be defined with winning hands and associated side wager payouts. One example of such a pay table is illustrated in Table 1. Table 1 should be interpreted as illustrative only as the hand types and payouts may vary in other embodiments.

TABLE 1 Hand Type Side Wager Payout (to 1) Twin Straight Flushes 100 AKQ Suited 35 Straight Flush 15 3 of a Kind 10 Straight 2 Flush 1

In the example of Table 1, only the highest winning hand is paid unless both hands include straight flushes. It is contemplated, however, that this may vary in alternate optional embodiments.

In a variation of the Twin Hand 3 Card Poker embodiment, the hand evaluation rules include comparison of player hands to a pay table rather than a dealer hand. In one such optional embodiment, each player places a first hand wager and a second hand wager. The player is dealt three cards which are arranged into a one-card first hand set, a one-card second hand set, and a one-card shared set. Again, in an embodiment in which the player signifies the arrangement physically, the cards may be arranged in a row with a first hand set to one side, a second hand set to another side, and a shared set between them.

After the arrangement has been completed, one additional card is dealt to the set. Optionally, as discussed above, the additional card is dealt to the shared set. A first hand is formed from the one card in the first hand set plus the two cards in the shared set. A second hand is formed from the one card in the second hand set plus the two cards in the shared set. As above, in an optional embodiment including wild cards, if either of the cards in the shared set is a wild card, the wild card may be permitted to substitute for a different card in each hand.

The player hands are evaluated by comparing each player hand to a predefined pay table of ranked hands and associated payouts. The hand wagers are resolved by issuing a payout, if any, associated with the player hand for that hand wager or collecting (or retaining) the hand wager if no payout is associated with the player hand for that hand wager. Table 2 illustrates an example of a pay table for one such optional embodiment. Table 2 should be interpreted as illustrative only as the hand types and payouts may vary in other embodiments.

TABLE 2 Hand Type Payout (to 1) AKQ Suited 50 Straight Flush 20 3 of a Kind 10 Straight 3 Flush 2 Pair of Eights or Better 1

In an optional embodiment, an additional payout may be issued based on the first player hand and second player hand if both exceed a specified rank. For example, in one such optional embodiment, an additional payout may be paid if both player hands are a straight flush or higher.

In another variation on such an optional embodiment, no additional cards are dealt. For example, in one optional embodiment, a set of five cards is dealt to the player. The player forms a first hand set of two cards, a second hand set of two cards, and a shared set of one card. The first hand, in such an optional embodiment, consists of the three cards in the two-card first hand set and the one-card shared set. The second hand consists of the three cards in the two-card second hand set and the one-card shared set. For example, in one such optional embodiment, a set containing the cards 6

8

9

9

A

may be arranged with a first hand set of 6

A

a second hand set of 8

9

and a shared set of 9

. In such an example, the first player hand would include 6

A

9

(or a flush) and the second player hand would include 9

9

8

(or a pair of nines).

In one such optional embodiment, the player hands are evaluated by separately comparing the first player hand and the second player hand to a dealer hand. The dealer hand may be formed in any manner. In one such optional embodiment, a set of four cards is dealt. The dealer hand is formed from three of the four cards, optionally by selecting the highest ranking hand that can be formed from the four available cards. In another optional embodiment, a set of three cards may be dealt and the dealer hand may be formed from the three cards dealt in the set. In one such optional embodiment, the resolution of the wagers may include a dealer qualifying hand such that if the dealer hand does not meet or exceed a dealer qualifying hand rank, player wagers are considered a push even if the player hand associated with the player wager otherwise outranks the dealer hand.

In another optional embodiment applied to poker, referred to herein as “Wild 3×4 Poker,” a player may form up to three hands of four cards. In one optional embodiment, the game is conducted using a standard deck of fifty-two cards supplemented with two jokers, which act as wild cards.

A Wild 3×4 Poker game may be conducted using two different hand evaluation rules, optionally for the same players. That is, two varieties of Wild 3×4 Poker, referred to herein as Triple Win and Triple Bonus, may be offered separately or together depending on the optional embodiment. In an optional embodiment in which the Triple Win and Triple Bonus varieties are offered together, the player may be limited to selecting one variety, or may be permitted to play both varieties simultaneously.

The Triple Win variety may utilize hand evaluation rules conducted against a comparison hand, namely a dealer or banker hand. A player places a first hand wager and a second hand wager and is dealt a set of three cards. The player forms a one-card first hand set, a one-card second hand set, and a one-card shared set. In an optional embodiment, a player may place a post-deal wager after the arrangement of the three-card set is complete.

Two additional cards are dealt. The two additional cards are included in the shared set, but may be displayed or placed separate from the one-card shared set selected from the initially dealt set of cards. Specifically, the first hand is the four-card hand formed from the one card in the first hand set and the three cards in the shared set. The second hand is the four-card hand formed from the one card in the second hand set and the three cards in the shared set. A “third” player hand is used to resolve the post-deal wager. The “third” player hand is the four-card hand formed from the one card in the first hand set, the one card in the second hand set, and the two additional cards dealt to the shared set.

The first player hand, second player hand, and “third” player hand are evaluated based on separate and independent comparisons to a dealer hand. In an optional embodiment, the dealer hand is formed from a set of four cards. In one optional embodiment, the comparison between the dealer hand and each player hand is based on a ranking of four-card hands consisting of the hands, in descending order: four of a kind, straight flush, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and high card. The player's first hand wager is resolved based on a comparison between the first player hand and the dealer hand; the player's second hand wager is resolved based on a comparison between the second player hand and the dealer hand; and the post-deal wager is resolved based on a comparison between the “third” player hand and the dealer hand.

If the dealer hand outranks a player hand, the hand wager for that player hand is collected or retained. If the dealer hand is outranked by a player hand, the hand wager for that player hand is rewarded. In resolving the wagers, certain hands may be deemed automatically winning hands. For example, in one optional embodiment, if a player hand includes two pair or better, that player hand automatically wins. Optionally, a dealer qualifying hand may be defined so that certain player hands result in a push, even if the player hand otherwise outranks the dealer hand. For example, in one optional embodiment, if a player hand outranks the dealer hand and the dealer hand is ranked lower than J-9-8, the player hand pushes; otherwise, the player hand wins and a reward is issued.

In a Triple Bonus variety of the Wild 3×4 Poker game, a player places a first hand wager and a second hand wager. The deal of the set of cards and the formation of a one-card first hand set, a one-card second hand set, and a shared set may proceed in a manner substantially similar to that of the Triple Win variety of the Wild 3×4 Poker game described above. Additionally, the player may be permitted to place a post-deal wager on a “third” player hand and two additional shared cards may be dealt as previously described.

The difference between the Triple Win and Triple Bonus varieties of Wild 3×4 Poker is in the evaluation rules in which the first player hand, second player hand, and “third” player hand are compared, separately and independently, to a pay table of hands and associated payouts. Specifically, the first hand wager is resolved based on a comparison between a four-card first player hand (consisting of a one-card first hand set and the three-card shared set) and a pay table; the second hand wager is resolved based on a comparison between a four-card second player hand (consisting of a one-card second hand set and the three card shared set) and a pay table; and the post-deal wager is resolved based on a comparison between a four-card “third” player hand (consisting of a one-card first hand set, a one-card second hand set, and the two additional shared cards) and a pay table. Table 3 illustrates an example pay table for a Triple Bonus variety of a Wild 3×4 Poker game. Table 3 should be interpreted as illustrative only as the hand types and payouts may vary in other embodiments.

TABLE 3 Hand Type Payout (to 1) 4 of a Kind 50 Straight Flush 25 Flush 5 Straight 4 3 of a Kind 3 Two Pair 3 Pair of Jacks or Better 1

In an optional embodiment, an additional payout may be issued if all three player hands rank above a pair of jacks. For example, in one such optional embodiment, if all three player hands rank above a pair of jacks, an additional payout equal to double the post-deal wager may be issued to the player in addition to the payout for the post-deal wager according to the pay table.

In yet another example, a method according to an embodiment of the present invention may be conducted using a standard set of thirty-two Pai Gow tiles in a game referred to herein as “Twin Win Pai Gow.” In an optional embodiment of “Twin Win Pai Gow,” the player places a first hand wager and a second hand wager. A set of three tiles is dealt to each player, who arranges the three-tile set into a one-tile first hand set, a one-tile second hand set, and a one-tile shared set. One additional tile is dealt to each player's shared set and each player forms a three-tile first player hand (consisting of the one-tile first hand set and the two-tile shared set) and a three-tile second player hand (consisting of the one-tile second hand set and the two-tile shared set).

The hand evaluation rules for this optional embodiment include comparison to a dealer hand. In this optional embodiment, a three-tile dealer hand is dealt when the player sets are dealt. The ranking of hands is based on conventional two-tile Pai Gow hands. Thus, in comparing the first player hand to the dealer hand and the second player hand to the dealer hand, the hands are compared on the basis of the highest ranking two-tile hand that can be formed from the three tiles available in the hand. The first hand wager is resolved based on a comparison between the best possible Pai Gow rank of two tiles in the three-tile first player hand and the best possible Pai Gow rank of two tiles in the three-tile dealer hand. The second hand wager is resolved based on a comparison between the best possible Pai Gow rank of two tiles in the three-tile second player hand and the best possible Pai Gow rank of two tiles in the three-tile dealer hand. In resolving the hand wagers, if the dealer hand outranks the player hand, the hand wager associated with that player hand is collected or retained. If the dealer hand ties the player hand, the hand wager associated with that player hand is returned. In an optional embodiment, if both player hands are a pair, the player automatically wins both wagers. If a player hand outranks the dealer hand, the hand wager associated with that player hand is returned if the dealer hand is less than six according to conventional Pai Gow hand rankings; otherwise, the player wager wins.

In an optional embodiment, a side wager, optionally referred to as a “Gong Up” side wager, may be offered. In one such optional embodiment, the side wager is resolved based on the set of three tiles initially dealt to the player. The three-tile initial set is compared to a pay table of winning hands and associated payouts. If the set of three tiles forms at least a Gong according to conventional Pai Gow hand rankings, the side wager is rewarded. If the set of three tiles fails to form a Gong or higher according to conventional Pai Gow hand rankings, the player's side wager is collected or retained. An example of a pay table for a Gong Up side wager is illustrated in Table 4. Table 4 should be interpreted as illustrative only as the hand types and payouts may vary in other embodiments.

TABLE 4 Hand Type Side Wager Payout (to 1) 9 + Heaven or Earth Pair 50 8 + Heaven or Earth Pair 30 Supreme, Heaven, or Earth Pair 10 One Pair 3 Wong 2 Gong 2

In the example of Table 4, certain payouts (Gong, Wong, One Pair, and Supreme, Heaven, or Earth Pair) are issued for the best two-tile hand that can be formed from the three tiles in the initially dealt set while others (9+Heaven or Earth Pair and 8+Heaven or Earth Pair) are based on all three tiles in the initial three-tile set.

In another example embodiment, an embodiment of the present method may be applied to a game based on baccarat. One such example, referred to herein as “Twin Win Baccarat,” is conducted using one or more conventional fifty-two card decks. In one optional embodiment, a player places a first hand wager and a second hand wager. A three-card set is dealt to the player, who arranges the three cards into a one-card first hand set, a one-card second hand set, and a one-card shared set.

A first player hand (formed from the first hand set plus the shared set) and a second hand (formed from the second hand set plus the shared set) are formed. An additional card may be dealt to the first hand set and/or the second hand set depending on the value of the first player hand and/or the second player hand, respectively. That is, a value is calculated for each of the first player hand and the second player hand by summing the cards in the first player hand using a value of zero for face cards and ten cards, a value of one for aces, and the face value for all other cards. If the sum exceeds ten, modular arithmetic, base ten, is used to reduce the sum to less than ten. Specifically, if the sum exceeds ten, the sum is divided by ten, and the value is equal to the remainder after the division. For example, a hand containing a three and a nine would have a sum of twelve but would be accorded a value of two (since two is the remainder after dividing twelve by ten).

If the value of the first player hand is less than six, an additional card is dealt to the first hand set. If the value of the second player hand is less than six, an additional card is dealt to the second hand set. A new value is calculated for a player hand if an additional card is dealt to the player hand.

The first hand wager is resolved by comparing the value of the first player hand (i.e. first hand set with any additional card dealt plus the shared set) to a dealer hand and the second hand wager is resolved by comparing the value of the second player hand (i.e. the second hand set with any additional card dealt plus the shared set) to a dealer hand. The dealer hand may be formed in any manner.

In one optional embodiment, a set of three cards is dealt and a dealer hand is formed by arranging the three card set into a first dealer hand set, a second dealer hand set, and a shared dealer set. The dealer hand is the higher valued hand from the hand formed by the first dealer hand set plus the shared dealer set and the hand formed by the second dealer hand set plus the shared dealer hand set, if one or the other of those hands has a value greater than four. If neither hand has a value greater than four, a hand formed from the first dealer hand set and the second dealer hand set is evaluated. If that hand has a value greater than four, it becomes the dealer hand.

Player hand wagers are resolved by collecting a hand wager if the value of the player hand associated with that hand wager is lower than the value of the dealer hand. A hand wager is rewarded if the value of the player hand associated with that hand wager is higher than the value of the dealer hand. Optionally, rewards are paid at even money. A push may occur, i.e. the player's hand wager may be returned, when the value of a player hand ties the value of a dealer hand.

In an optional embodiment, an optional side wager, referred to as a “Pair Up Wager,” may be offered. In one such optional embodiment, a pay table of winning hands and payouts may be defined and the side wager may be resolved by comparing the initial three-card set dealt to a player to the pay table. Table 5 illustrates an example of a side wager pay table. Table 5 should be interpreted as illustrative only as the hand types and payouts may vary in other embodiments.

TABLE 5 Hand Type Side Wager Payout (to 1) Suited Triplet 100 Triplet 20 Suited Pair 6 Pair 2

In another optional embodiment, a method according to the present invention may be applied to a game based on blackjack. One such optional embodiment, referred to herein as “Twin Win Blackjack,” may be conducted using one or more standard fifty-two card decks or, alternatively, one or more forty-eight card Spanish decks. Each player places a first hand wager and a second hand wager and receives a set of three cards. The player arranges the three-card set into a one-card first hand set, a one-card second hand set, and a one-card shared set. A two-card first player hand is formed from the one-card first hand set and the one-card shared set. The first player hand is formed by hitting (receiving at least one additional card to the first hand set) or standing. The second player hand is similarly formed by hitting or standing. The resulting first player hand includes the first hand set with any additional cards dealt to the first hand set plus the one-card shared set. The resulting second player hand includes the second hand set with any additional cards dealt to the second hand set plus the one-card shared set. As in conventional blackjack, a player who busts, i.e. takes a hit that causes the sum of the cards in a player hand to exceed the target value of twenty-one, automatically loses the hand wager associated with that player hand. Optionally, the player may have the option to double down on some limited or unlimited basis as known in conventional blackjack.

Once the player hands have been formed (or busted), a dealer hand is formed. Optionally, the dealer hand is formed by dealing two cards to a dealer hand and hitting until the sum of the values of the cards in the dealer hand reaches or exceeds a predetermined total. As with the player hands, if the dealer hand exceeds a target value of twenty-one, the dealer hand “busts” and each hand wager associated with a player hand that did not bust is rewarded. In an alternate optional embodiment, the dealer hand may be formed from a set of three cards arranged into a first dealer hand set, a second dealer hand set, and a shared dealer set. The dealer hand may be formed based on one, or both, of the hands formed from the first dealer hand set plus the shared dealer set and the second dealer hand set plus the shared dealer set.

If the dealer hand does not bust, the value of the dealer hand is compared to the value of each player hand that did not bust. For example, assuming that neither the first player hand nor the second player hand busted, a first hand wager is resolved by comparing the value of the first player hand to the value of the dealer hand. If the value of the first player hand is closer to the target value of twenty-one than the value of the dealer hand is, the first hand wager is rewarded. If the value of the dealer hand is closer to the target value of twenty-one than the value of the first player hand is, the first hand wager is collected. If the value of the dealer hand and the value of the first player hand are equal, the player's first hand wager is returned. The second hand wager is similarly resolved.

The present invention may also include a device for conducting the present invention. The present invention may be conducted at a live gaming table using physical game pieces, physical gaming chips, and so forth. Alternatively, the present invention may be conducted on a device. The form of the device may vary depending on the particular implementation. For example, the device may take the form of an electronic gaming device, personal computer, handheld device, cellular telephone, electronic gaming table, kiosk, or the like.

A device optionally includes a data processor 200 communicating with, and controlling, a display 202. The data processor 200 may control the display 202 directly or via another device, such as a video controller. The data processor 200 may take any form, including a microprocessor executing program instructions in the form of software, firmware, or the like. Similarly, the display 202 may take any form, including a cathode ray tube monitor, liquid crystal display, mechanical reel display, plasma display, or the like.

The data processor 200 may communicate with a wager device 204 receiving wager input and transmitting the wager input to the data processor 200. It is contemplated that the wager device 204 may be operable by a player (such as a bill acceptor, ticket reader, coin receiver, card reader, bet sensor, or the like that directly receives or senses a wager) or may be operable by a dealer (such as a keypad, keyboard, button panel, or the like) who determines the placement of a wager and inputs the wager input via the wager device 204. In another optional embodiment, the wager device 204 may be an input device operable by the player to allocate credits to a wager from a register of stored credits.

Optionally, the device includes a player input device 208 in communication with the data processor 200. The player input device 208 may take any form, such as a button panel, mouse, touchscreen, pointer, keyboard or keypad, or the like, and may be operable by the player to input player selections to the data processor 200.

A data storage device 206 communicates with the data processor 200. Optionally, the data storage device 206 stores data representing the parameters for conducting the wagering game, such as pay tables, wager limits, and the like, game pieces and graphics of the game pieces displayable at the display, hand evaluation rules, and the like. Additionally, the data storage device 206 stores program instructions executable by the data processor 200 for conducting a game method as previously described.

For example, in one optional embodiment, wager input representing at least two hand wagers is received at the data processor 200 via the wager input device 204. The data processor 200 deals a set of to the player in response to the wager input. The player inputs an arrangement of the set via a player input device 208. As previously discussed, the arrangement includes a hand set for each of the hand wagers and a shared set. In an optional embodiment in which an additional game piece is dealt to the player, the data processor 200 deals the additional game piece and allocates it to the shared set or a hand set as determined by the specific embodiment.

The data processor 200 forms a player hand for each hand wager including at least the hand set (with any additional game pieces dealt) associated with that hand wager and the shared set. The data processor 200 evaluates each player hand separately and independently using the hand evaluation rules stored at the data storage 206. In an optional embodiment in which the hand evaluation rules include a comparison to a dealer hand, the data processor 200 may deal and form a dealer hand.

Based on the evaluation of the player hands, the data processor 200 resolves each hand wager. The device retains or collects losing wagers and issues rewards for winning wagers. In an optional embodiment, rewards are added to a register of stored credits that can be wagered on subsequent games or cashed out. Optionally, the device includes a reward device 210, such as a ticket printer, coin dispenser, or the like, to issue physical rewards or to cash out stored credits.

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that the present invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention presented herein. 

1. A method of conducting a wagering game for at least one player using game pieces, said wagering game including hand evaluation rules for evaluating hands formed from said game pieces, said method comprising: receiving two or more hand wagers from said player; dealing a set of game pieces to said player; receiving from said player an arrangement of said set of game pieces, said arrangement including a hand set of game pieces for each of said player's hand wagers and a shared set of game pieces; forming a player hand for each of said player's hand wagers, each of said player hands including at least a hand set of game pieces for that hand wager and said shared set of game pieces; evaluating each player hand separately and independently of the other player hands based on said hand evaluation rules; and resolving each of said player's hand wagers based on the evaluation of the player hand for that hand wager.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of forming a player hand for each of said player's hand wagers further comprises dealing at least one additional game piece to said set of game pieces.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said at least one additional game piece is dealt to said shared set of game pieces after said arrangement of said set of game pieces is received.
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein said at least one additional game piece is dealt to a hand set of game pieces after said arrangement of said set of game pieces is received.
 5. The method of claim 2 further comprising: receiving a post-deal wager from said player after said step of dealing said set of game pieces to said player and before said step of dealing said at least one additional game piece to said set of game pieces; and resolving said post-deal wager after said arrangement of said set of game pieces is received, said resolution of said post-deal wager based on a combination of at least one of the game pieces dealt to said set of game pieces prior to the receipt of said post-deal wager and at least one of the additional game pieces dealt to said set of game pieces after the receipt of said post-deal wager.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said hand evaluation rules comprise a predefined pay table of ranked hands and associated payouts such that said step of separately and independently evaluating each player hand comprises separately comparing each player hand to said ranked hands on said pay table and said step of resolving each of said player's hand wagers comprises issuing the payout, if any, associated with at least one of said player hands according to said pay table.
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising issuing an additional payout if two or more of said player hands are associated with a specified ranked hand according to said pay table.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said hand evaluation rules comprise a ranking of hands formed from said game pieces, the method further comprising: dealing a comparison hand such that said step of separately and independently evaluating each player hand comprises separately comparing each player hand to said comparison hand according to said ranking of hands and said step of resolving each of said player's hand wagers comprises issuing a payout to said player if said player hand for said hand wager outranks said comparison hand according to said ranking of hands.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said hand evaluation rules comprise at least one calculation for determining the value of a hand formed from said game pieces and a target value, the method further comprising: dealing a comparison hand such that said step of separately and independently evaluating each player hand comprises separately comparing the value of each player hand to the value of said comparison hand according to said evaluation rules and said step of resolving each of said player's hand wagers comprises issuing a payout to said player if the value of said player hand for said hand wager is closer to said target value than the value of said comparison hand is.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of resolving each of said player's hand wagers further comprises collecting said player's hand wager if the value of said player hand for that hand wager exceeds said target value.
 11. A method of conducting a wagering game for at least one player using game pieces comprising: defining hand evaluation rules for evaluating hands formed from said game pieces; receiving a first hand wager and a second hand wager from said player; dealing a set of game pieces to said player; receiving from said player an arrangement of said set of game pieces, said arrangement including a first hand set of game pieces for said first hand wager, a second hand set of game pieces for said second hand wager, and a shared set of game pieces; forming a first player hand for said first hand wager including at least said first hand set of game pieces and said shared set of game pieces and forming a second player hand for said second hand wager including at least said second hand set of game pieces and said shared set of game pieces; evaluating said first player hand and said second player hand separately and independently based on said hand evaluation rules; and resolving said first hand wager based on the evaluation of said first player hand and said second hand wager based on the evaluation of said second player hand.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of forming a first player hand and a second player hand further comprises dealing at least one additional game piece to said set of game pieces.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said at least one additional game piece is dealt to said shared set of game pieces after said arrangement of said set of game pieces is received.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said at least one additional game piece is dealt to a hand set of game pieces after said arrangement of said set of game pieces is received.
 15. The method of claim 12 further comprising: receiving a post-deal wager from said player after said step of dealing said set of game pieces to said player and before said step of dealing said at least one additional game piece to said set of game pieces; and resolving said post-deal wager after said arrangement of said set of game pieces is received, said resolution of said post-deal wager based on a combination of at least one of the game pieces dealt to said set of game pieces prior to the receipt of said post-deal wager and at least one of the additional game pieces dealt to said set of game pieces after the receipt of said post-deal wager.
 16. The method of claim 11 further comprising: defining said hand evaluation rules to include a predefined pay table of ranked hands and associated payouts such that said step of separately and independently evaluating said first player hand and said second player hand comprises separately comparing each of said first player hand and said second player hand to said ranked hands on said pay table and said step of resolving each of said player's first hand wager and second hand wager comprises issuing the payout, if any, associated with at least one of said first player hand and said second player hand according to said pay table.
 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising issuing an additional payout if at least said first player hand and said second player hand are associated with a specified ranked hand according to said pay table.
 18. The method of claim 11 further comprising: defining said hand evaluation rules to include a ranking of hands formed from said game pieces; and dealing a comparison hand such that said step of separately and independently evaluating said first player hand and said second player hand comprises separately comparing each of said first player hand and said second player hand to said comparison hand according to said ranking of hands and said step of resolving each of said player's first hand wager and said second hand wager comprises issuing a payout to said player if said first player hand outranks said comparison hand according to said ranking of hands and issuing a payout to said player if said second player hand outranks said comparison hand according to said ranking of hands.
 19. The method of claim 11 further comprising: defining said hand evaluation rules to include at least one calculation for determining the value of a hand formed from said game pieces and a target value; and dealing a comparison hand such that said step of separately and independently evaluating said first player hand and said second player hand comprises separately comparing the value of each of said first player hand and said second player hand to the value of said comparison hand according to said evaluation rules and said step of resolving each of said player's first hand wager and second hand wager comprises issuing a payout to said player if the value of said first player hand is closer to said target value than the value of said comparison hand is and issuing a payout to said player if the value of said second player hand is closer to said target value than the value of said comparison hand is.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of resolving each of said player's hand wagers further comprises collecting said player's first hand wager if the value of said first player hand exceeds said target value and collecting said player's second hand wager if the value of said second player hand exceeds said target value. 